Marijuana load seized in drug raid

A Vale man was arrested Tuesday night after officers with the countyâ€™s Drug Task Force raided his home and found a cache of illegal drugs.
Clemente Mendoza, 35, was arrested Tuesday at his western Lincoln County home, Lt. Gene Sain with the Drug Task Force said.
He has been charged with one count of trafficking marijuana and one count possession with intent to sell and deliver.
Sain said Mendozaâ€™s arrest comes after an investigating by the task force lasting about six months.
Authorities used surveillance and other investigating techniques in determining Mendozaâ€™s activities.
Based on that intelligence, task force members knew he had a large quantity of drugs in his home at 349 Cooper Road in Vale, Sain said.
â€œWe felt like he was moving a large quantity,â€ Sain said.
They obtained a search warrant and raided Mendozaâ€™s home Tuesday night.
There, they found 26 pounds of marijuana.
The street value depends on how the drugs are divided up, Sain said. If itâ€™s in pounds, it could be worth about $26,000. The value could double if split up other ways.
Along with Sain, Detective Steve Molnar, Detective Rick Lynn, Sgt. Lonnie Leonard and Officer Steve Grinnell worked on the bust.by Alice Smith